Summary & Overview
HCPCS C2616: Yttrium-90 Brachytherapy Source, Non-Stranded
HCPCS Level II code C2616 denotes a non-stranded yttrium-90 brachytherapy source billed per individual source. This code captures the device component of internal radiation therapy used in targeted oncologic procedures and matters nationally because brachytherapy supply coding affects hospital and outpatient radiation oncology billing, inventory accounting, and payer coverage determinations for high-cost radioactive sources. Clarity on device coding supports consistent claims submission and payment for complex radiation treatments.
Key payers in the coverage analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication outlines how these payers commonly handle device and implant supply coding, and highlights national considerations for reimbursement policies and prior authorization practices where applicable.
Readers will learn the clinical and billing context for C2616, including the typical service setting (hospital outpatient departments and specialized radiation oncology clinics), the nature of the supply (individual, non-stranded yttrium-90 sources), and how this code fits into broader brachytherapy billing workflows. The report also summarizes available benchmarks, common payer coverage themes, and relevant policy updates or coding guidance when present. Data not available in the input is clearly noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C2616 describes a brachytherapy source, non-stranded, yttrium-90, per source. The service represents provision of an individual radioactive source used in internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) where yttrium-90 is the radioactive isotope and the sources are non-stranded (individual seeds or sources rather than linked strands).
Service type: Brachytherapy implant supply
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or specialized radiation oncology clinic
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with a focal hepatic malignancy or metastatic liver disease being treated with internal radiation therapy using yttrium-90 microsphere brachytherapy sources. The interventional radiation oncology team coordinates pre-procedure planning, including cross-sectional imaging (CT or MRI), angiography to map hepatic arterial anatomy, and technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin (MAA) simulation to estimate lung shunt fraction. On the day of treatment, the patient is in an interventional radiology or hybrid operating suite. Under moderate sedation or general anesthesia, a vascular access sheath is placed, and a microcatheter is navigated into the target hepatic artery branch. The physician delivers one or more C2616 yttrium-90 non-stranded sources (billed per source) or yttrium-90 microspheres according to dose plan. Post-delivery angiography confirms target embolization, and the patient is observed for complications such as post-embolization syndrome or vascular injury. Typical sites of service are an interventional radiology suite, hybrid OR, or outpatient procedure room within a hospital or ambulatory surgery center. The multidisciplinary workflow includes radiation oncology for dosimetry, interventional radiology for catheter delivery, nuclear medicine/physics for source handling and calibration, and nursing for peri-procedural care.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services |